DeKALB – Khalifeh Assaf, owner of Northern Fresh Market on 1013 W. Hillcrest Drive, said he didn’t immediately know how to feel about the prospect of moving his business from the Hunter Hillcrest property amid city of DeKalb plans to purchase and then demolish the building.

Assaf said he’s aware of recent crime concerns in the area and “if [the city is] doing it for a good reason and that it’s gonna be for the betterment of the neighborhood,” he isn’t totally opposed to the planned purchase, which on Monday was given a unanimous go-ahead by the city council.

However, Assaf said “businesses are all about location” and “it’s not that simple” to relocate from one spot to another – especially if business owners, like Assaf, are their family’s main financial provider.

“It costs a great deal of money, especially for my business,” Assaf said. “If I’m going to move out of here to rebuild or go somewhere else, I’m not going to do the same business.”

The DeKalb City Council voted, 7-0, during its Monday meeting to approve buying the building from the landlord. Sixth Ward Alderman Mike Verbic was absent from the meeting.

Assaf said he was notified by his business’s landlord Hunter Properties about the City trying to work out a deal to buy the building. However, he has not yet been approached by city officials directly about the plan.

City officials have said the timeframe for the move is still being planned out, with the first step being council approval. The second step is contingent upon acquiring leases of all the current commercial and residential tenants in the building to begin the relocation process, officials said. The city has earmarked $1.18 million in federal funds received from the American Recovery Act to demolish the building and aid tenants in relocation.

“Unless [the city] can compensate the businesses decently, where they can actually start somewhere else,” Assaf said. At any rate, he urged city officials to not “throw us out just like that.”

“It’s hard enough to survive these days as it is,” Assaf said.

Ali Hussain, owner of Huskie’s Tobacco at 1023 W. Hillcrest Drive, said he found out about the proposal through local news coverage. He said he has been in business in the area for more than 10 years.

“I have no other experience ... and the whole economy is going down, down, down,” Hussain said. “If I leave this thing, where are we supposed to go? It’s very difficult for everyone.”

DeKalb City Manager Bill Nicklas previously said all nine of the building’s business spaces are leased, though not all of the 14 residential apartment units upstairs are occupied.

Nicklas said the city recently pocketed $1.5 million in federal American Recovery Act funds to use for residents “who have been underserved for a period of time.” He said some of that money will go toward helping residents and businesses relocate, since that’s a demolition-related cost and falls within fund-use parameters.

“We will work with them,” Nicklas said.